Miami Heat: 5 realistic free-agent targets this offseason
By Simon Smith
It was an enormous thud back to reality for the Miami Heat in season 2020-21.
Coming off the back of a memorable trip to the NBA Finals through an unprecedented run in the NBA bubble, the Heat were never able to recapture the form that shocked the league last postseason. Through a combination of Covid protocols, untimely injuries, and a degree of regression in some players, the Heat produced a largely underwhelming regular season, aside from a couple of brief runs of sustained form.
Following a disastrous finish to their season, here are five realistic free agents the Miami Heat should consider targeting this offseason.
Now having been swept in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks, the team they defeated 4-1 in last year’s playoffs, the Heat are now facing a very challenging and pivotal offseason. As presently constructed, the Heat have just five players under contract for the 2021-22 season: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Precious Achiuwa and KZ Okpala.
They have a trio of restricted free agents in Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn and Max Strus, whilst also having a team option on the final year of the contracts of veterans Goran Dragic and Andre Iguodala. Furthermore, midseason arrivals in the form of Victor Oladipo, Trevor Ariza and Nemanja Bjelica enter the summer as unrestricted free agents, with Oladipo the only one of the trio with whom the Heat hold their Bird rights.
As a result, the Heat front office led by team president Pat Riley will simply have their work cut out for them as they look to regenerate a roster just eight months removed from the NBA Finals.
With this in mind, here are five free agents Riley and his team should consider pursuing.